The 2025 Frankfort Bluegrass Festival once again proved why it's one of the most beloved grassroots gatherings in the Midwest. Held July 12–13 in the historic downtown square of Frankfort, IL, the all-ages, free festival continues to grow while maintaining its community spirit and bluegrass roots. With three stages, including the shaded beer garden stage at Old Plank Trail Tavern, the weekend offered nonstop music, local vendors, and warm hospitality around every corner. Typically falling during the hottest stretch of the summer, this year’s festival was blessed with unexpectedly mild weather, making the experience even more enjoyable for the steady stream of pickers, dancers, and camp-chair loyalists who packed the streets. What began 15 years ago as a modest celebration of acoustic tradition has evolved into a beloved summer tradition for fans of every generation.
Fans were treated to unforgettable sets from the legendary Del McCoury Band and Tony Trischka’s EarlJam, which honored the late, great Earl Scruggs with rare transcriptions of solos unearthed from jam recordings with John Hartford. The sets from Trischka featured Michael Daves and included so many heartwarming stories of yore.
Joined by crowd favorites like Henhouse Prowlers, East Nash Grass, Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, Nu Blu, Nick Dumas & Branchline, the Rick Faris Band, Anderlik, Otto & Church, and Special Consensus, the lineup balanced tradition and innovation. Rising talents and Midwest staples Fox Crossing String Band and Wheels North delivered a weekend of bluegrass that felt both timeless and forward-looking.
Saturday morning kicked off with an emotional and energetic set from the Grateful String Band, who’ve been riding a “no repeats” streak since Spring 2025. The group, born from a one-off gathering seven years ago, was originally assembled by the late guitarist Jim Boukas, pulling musicians from various bands for a makeshift Dead-style jam.
It was supposed to be a one-off gig, but after Jim passed three years ago, they felt a deep responsibility to keep it going. Their set, surprisingly included a crowd-pleasing “One More Saturday Night” — shockingly, a tune they hadn’t played yet. While most of the early risers stayed seated, a few twirls and subtle shuffles crept in off to the side. It was the kind of moment that sets the tone — heartfelt, laid-back, and rooted in love for the music.
Making their Frankfort debut all the way from Germany, Johnny & the Yooahoos brought a fresh, international flair to the lineup. With tight harmonies, high energy, and an infectious enthusiasm, they had no trouble winning over the crowd, many of whom had never seen or heard of them before. They showcased the band’s knack for balancing tradition with personality throughout their 4 sets of the weekend. It’s no surprise they left with a wave of new fans. In a festival filled with longtime favorites and local legends, Johnny & the Yooahoos proved that bluegrass’s reach is global — and its heartbeat just as strong on the other side of the Atlantic.
Later that evening, all eyes turned to the Henhouse Prowlers, who celebrated their 21st anniversary with two distinct performances. An earlier set channeled their early days as Sexfist, with rowdy energy and deep-cut favorites for longtime fans. But it was their headlining set on the Briedert Green stage, with no overlapping shows, that truly stole the weekend. Drawing from their new album Unravel, the Prowlers showcased their evolution into international bluegrass ambassadors, including a moving performance of “Shynarym” — a traditional tune from Kazakhstan — featuring Cassis Wright on dobro. The evening ended with their powerful original “Gospel in Review” and a perfectly placed Johnny Cash cover, which finally brought wide smiles and subtle head nods from even the most firmly planted front-row campers. For fans who take their bluegrass seriously — and their seats even more so — Frankfort once again delivered an experience that blended reverence and revelry in equal measure.
